Risk Calculator

Once you have done the RLEM Pasture Check, the next step is to use the RLEM Risk Calculator to determine the risk of RLEM damage for your paddocks. The level of risk will help you determine how to manage RLEM in each paddock.

Answer each question by checking the appropriate box(es). To find out more about each question, hover your mouse over the help icon to see an explanation about each question and its answers.

Once you have answered every question, then click submit to find out your risk of RLEM damage next autumn.

Please note: All fields must be completed to calculate your risk.

RLEM Risk Calculator
1.	Are you within the known distribution of RLEM? Yes No Unsure	HelpQ1 RLEM Distribution Check whether your property is within the known distribution of RLEM by looking up the map of RLEM distribution on the Timerite® website. If you are outside this distribution it is unlikely that you have RLEM and you may want to check whether you have Blue Oat Mite which looks similar. If you are on the boundary of the distribution and are unsure whether RLEM is in your area, check with your local agronomist.
2.	After your field check in spring do you have RLEM in more than one location in your paddock? More than 6 RLEM Less than 6 RLEM No Unsure	HelpQ2 Spring RLEM Levels It is important to do a field check in spring before spraying to determine whether your paddock has RLEM. Use the RLEM Pasture Check first to help you determine whether you have RLEM. You will need to check at least 4 locations within each paddock.
3.	Has this paddock had RLEM over the last 3 years? Yes No Unsure	HelpQ3 Paddock History of RLEM If a paddock has had RLEM present within the last 3 years, then the conditions may become suitable for RLEM again either through changes in weather, reinvasion from surrounding paddocks, or changes in plant varieties.
4.	Are there RLEM in the areas surrounding the paddock? Yes No Unsure	HelpQ4 RLEM in Surrounding Areas It has been found that RLEM diapause eggs can move with soil movement including wind erosion, and adhering to machinery. They are also able to walk small distances. If surrounding paddocks have RLEM, then there is the possibility of RLEM diapause eggs moving into clean paddocks.
5.	What plants are currently present in the paddock? Legumes Grasses Canola Wheat, Oats "Prima" gland clover, red lentils, chick peas Other	HelpQ5 Plant Susceptibility Pastures and crops can differ in their susceptibility to RLEM attack. High risk: Legumes (especially subterranean clover) and canola. Medium risk: Grasses, wheat and oats. Low risk: “Prima” gland clover (bred for higher tolerance to RLEM), “Casbah” biserrula, red lentils and chick peas. More RLEM tolerant pasture varieties are being developed by Pastures Australia, so keep your eye out for new varieties in the years to come.
6.	What is the height of the pasture? Less than 5cm 5-15cm 15-30cm Greater than 30cm Unsure	HelpQ6 Pasture Height The taller the pasture, the greater the carrying capacity of that pasture for RLEM. So taller pastures will have the capacity to support a larger population of RLEM than shorter pastures. In a trial by CSIRO a 50% reduction in dry matter resulted in a 75% reduction in RLEM numbers.
7.	Are broad leafed weeds present? Yes No	HelpQ7 Broad-leafed Weeds Broad-leafed weeds like cape weed and ox-tongue are hosts for RLEM. Therefore, if a pasture has high levels of broad-leafed weeds, it has a greater probability of having RLEM present. Research by LA Trobe University found that RLEM were able to survive and successfully reproduce on ox-tongue.
8.	What do you plan to have in the paddock next season? Legumes Grasses Canola Wheat, Oats "Prima" gland clover, red lentils, chick peas Other	HelpQ8 Plant Susceptibility Pastures and crops can differ in their susceptibility to RLEM attack. High risk: Legumes (especially subterranean clover) and canola. Medium risk: Grasses, wheat and oats. Low risk: “Prima” gland clover (bred for higher tolerance to RLEM), “Casbah” biserrula, red lentils and chick peas. More RLEM tolerant pasture varieties are being developed by Pastures Australia, so keep your eye out for new varieties in the years to come.
9.	Does your region regularly experience any of the following? False break of season Extended spring growing season Early finish of the spring growing season None of the above	HelpQ9 Weather and RLEM Seasonal weather conditions can influence the size of RLEM populations. False break of season: Is an early significant rain event followed by dry conditions before the true break of season. It can stimulate RLEM to hatch, but the following dry conditions kill off germinating seedlings, which in turn kills off the RLEM due to lack of feed. Extended Growing Season: If a population of RLEM was not sprayed at its Timerite® date, and there is an extended finish to the growing season in spring due to rain and or mild conditions, any mites present will survive longer (due to feed availability) and the females will continue to producing over-summering eggs. This will result in a greater number of eggs going into the soil at the season, increasing the probability of a larger RLEM population the following autumn. Early Season Finish: If the growing season finishes early, there is less time for RLEM females to produce over-summering eggs and so there will be fewer eggs in the soil over summer. This will reduce the probability of a large RLEM population the following autumn.